Happy Halloween

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

This Halloween was not so much trick-or-treat for myself or Matt.   

Matt spent his holiday in bed - resting, relaxing and getting better (was feeling ill today).  I on the other hand, woke up, did laundry, took Molly out, went to the law library for 5 1/2 hours (finished my juvenile justice paper except for final grammatical errors...1 down, 2 to go!), then got eyebrows waxed (because let's face it, no woman's halloween costume should include a unibrow), Publix (for candy for trick-or-treaters), and then more studying until Robby and Donald came over.  

I desperately wanted trick-or-treaters because I have never had them before, and I was stoked when I got my first group.  The were ADORABLE! The firefighter was my favorite, but the BAMA football player took off his scary mask to tell me "Thank you for the candy Miss," so he too won my heart.  I was a little bummed when I realized those were the only trick or treaters I would be getting.  

However, it was still a fantastic night! Donald brought his dog Leo (complete w/ Charlie Brown sweater - his costume) so Molly had a play date, Robby brought 5 Guys, and I supplied the Wii (MarioKart and Mario Party 8).  The guys and I had a fun night - lots of smack talk followed by lots of ass-kicking (namely Donald did that).  

So, here's hoping that no matter whether you tricked, treated, or just had a night in like Matt and I - that you had a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Studying....on Saturday?!?!?!

Well the weekend is finally here..thank goodness because it's been a long week.

The week began with the horrible realization that I have two 15 page papers and one 5 page paper due very very soon...and that meant being at the law library no later that 8:30 every morning and staying at school until after 5 every day.  I've got a lot of work done on my International Intellectual Property paper but still need to start my Juvenile Justice and Sea, Ocean, and Coastal paper.  That means next week is a lot like this week was.  

I headed back to Gadsden Thursday night (rush hour - took me 1 hour and 40 minutes to get 62 miles).  I went to the post office friday morning, took care of my parent's cat (food, treats, clean litter boxes), returned messages, and then I'm back in Birmingham tonight...why you might ask? Because as you can probably tell from this blog, I spend very few weekends in Birmingham!

I'm here because tomorrow I have the BarBri MPRE review course from 9:30-1:30.  I take this portion (professional responsibility) of the Bar on Sat. Nov. 8th.  Needless to say, I'm petrified - really, just the word BAR does that to me these days! So tomorrow I'll have my mind in the right place as I had a yummy dinner with my friend Robby, I will wake up early to take Molly on her daily walk, and then head to school focused.  

So, here's to everyone else who is studying on Saturday...GOOD LUCK!!!!

(Of course, that won't include my Bestest....she finished her MASTERS presentation today! Congrats Elizabeth!!! I am so proud of you!!)

Good Steaks?

So, what does one do when his soon-to-be in-laws call and ask him where they can get some good steak in his town?!?!?  

This is exactly what happened yesterday!  On Friday morning, Matt got a call from my parents telling him that they would be in Charlottesville, VA (on their way up to Maryland for sailing lessons) for the night and did he know where they could get some good steak (with him of course).  Well, Matt recommended The Downtown Grill (I haven't even been there yet!) and my mom made reservations for 7:30.  

However, my parents didn't just come into town for dinner.  No, they were lucky enough to visit one of my favorite places (Charlottesville) for a good portion of the day, rolling in around 3 pm.  They found a hotel room - even during the coveted UVA vs. UNC weekend (Wa-Hoo-Wa...UVA wins in Overtime) and were able to go exploring before dinner.  I directed them to Mincer's so they could get some long-sleeves to combat the chilly Virginia temperatures and of course adorn themselves in some Orange and Blue!  Then apparently they went wandering on grounds and ended up visiting Matt while he was at work at JPJ Arena.  They were even able to get a sneak peak of the UVA women's team on their first practice of the season!! Then it was back to the hotel before catching a trolley to the downtown pedestrian mall to meet Matt for dinner.  Matt then drove them back to the hotel giving a guided driving tour of Charlottesville on the way.

I got a call from Matt after he dropped them off at the hotel.  He couldn't stop telling me what a good time he had hanging out with my parents.  He said the food was delicious and the conversation was even better.  How blessed I am to have these 3 people in my life!  

My parents headed up to Annapolis this morning while Matt headed to a morning practice and then to the football game.  At half-time the Women's basketball team and staff were honored on the field. Then it was off to watch the remainder of the game with some of his fraternity alumni who came into town for the game.  Although I haven't heard from him, I'm sure he's out celebrating the big win on the corner with his friends - and I know that UVA won in overtime by a touchdown because my mother called. That's right, I think she has a little blue and orange running through her veins - and that was after only 1 night in Charlottesville! WA-HOO-WA BABY!!!

    
       

I felt like a little kid - and love it!

So, today I felt like a little kid...and no, it wasn't when asking or answering a law school question (thank goodness), because then I wouldn't have loved it as much as I did.

Here's some background to my story...some of you might know this, but some of you might not...Matt and I are saving money for our honeymoon.  We want to have our honeymoon paid off before we step foot on it - actually we want to have it paid off before June of next year (excluding airfare)!  I know, we might have lofty goals, but normally when Matt and I set goals together, we achieve them (biggest example NYC for Christmas '07)! 

So, with that in mind, last week I decided that I was done buying my lunch - a turkey sandwich and chips from Subway. Instead, I took a trip to the local Piggly Wiggly (only grocery store anywhere near my apartment) and bought doritos, cheese, turkey, mayo, and pickles (the bread was gifted to me by my parents).  I started making my lunches last week, but it was this week that I started bringing them to school.

Now I am by no means the only law student that brings their lunch - but there is more.  I would like to take this opportunity to let everyone who doesn't know - know that I am a die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fan (yes, even through this year...although we need to let go of Carpenter - in my opinion)...and my sister Kimberly and her family live in St. Louis and have season tickets (ones that Matt and I have both enjoyed).  Well one game a little while ago, Kimberly and her husband Jeff to their two boys to the game - and there was a gift at the gate.  A SWEET Cardinals lunchbox!! Well, I was lucky enough to get gifted one from one of my nephews (I'm thinking Carter gave his up because at that time he was too young for a lunchbox).  So, although other people bring plain brown bags or just their lunch in no bag - I proudly (at least for the last 2 days) sport my Cardinal colors and bring my lunchbox.

So, today as I ate my lunch in the breakroom at the law school, with my bright red cardinal lunchbox on the table and across the table from my good friend James, I felt like a kid again. Worry - free eating lunch - possibly getting ready to read the note my mommy place in my lunch.  Yeah, it felt good to be a kid again.  

Sidenote: For all those wondering how Matt and I are doing on our lofty goal....as of TODAY, 1/2 our honeymoon (the first 1/2) is already PAID off!!! 

A Welcomed Weekend...

This was definitely a welcomed weekend after a long week - for both Matt and I.  Although this weekend didn't bring Matt and I together, it was a good weekend for both of us.  Matt had another boys weekend while I went to hang out with my parents.

Kelly's Weekend:

My weekend began on Thursday, since I don't have Friday classes.  I drove back to Gadsden with Molly after my Sea, Ocean, and Coastal class on Thursday.  By the time I got in Thursday - well, actually, now that I type this, I had no idea what we did Thursday when I got in.  I know I did my laundry and then I had Subway pizza for dinner while my parents ate homemade stir-fry, but the rest of the afternoon is kind-of a mystery.  Then Friday arrived...and it was time for Mother's day.  Now I just want everyone to know that I was on-time for Mother's day and my present was 3 M's...Manicures, Margaritas, and a Movie...but my mom and I haven't had time to schedule this fun date, so Friday it finally happened.  First, off to the invitation store to order Matt and I's wedding invitations (so exciting...and woo-hoo for being super early...proof due in this Thursday)! Then off to manicures!  I decided not to get a color, but just have my nails sculpted, my mom however chose a beautiful color (i always chose a color based on the fun name O.P.I. brand gave it) that reminded her (and i ) of the color Grams always had on.  Then it was off to Margaritas - with a quick stop at the brand new JC Penny's in Gadsden...where I got two sweaters and some earrings for my mom.  Then it was off to Villa Fiesta for margaritas (frozen for my mom) and a frozen strawberry daiquiri for me!  YUMMY! Then home for the "movie" because we couldn't find anything good playing.  That night we headed out to Cherokee County, Alabama to eat at Creekside for dinner.  Well, it was my dad's job to make sure this "seasonal" (and historical) restaurant was open.  Apparently, it wasn't.  We drove up there (about 40 minutes) and there was a note on the door - RETIRED no longer open since August 24th.  I guess once my parents decided to retire, everyone else did too.  So, it was off to a small local steakhouse that my parents found when they stayed at a bed and breakfast up there.  I will say two things: 1) quaint and small - but the family owned operation is phenomenal...FANTASTIC individuals up there 2) never get a tuna steak at a steakhouse in north Alabama!  Seriously though, my parents meals looked delicious, my salad and baked potato were super tasty....and above all, it was a great experience.  We spent the drive home talking about where my sisters and I went to summer camp...CAMP SKYLINE (Mentone, AL)...great times...great memories!  Then Saturday, we woke up and after a heavy house cleaning we headed over to Millie (the old house) to clean some stuff out of the garage.  Then we back to the house - where my mom opened up her birthday present from me.  (The big day is later this week).  It was Harry Potter Clue game.  She opened it up, and after reading the directions we played! It was tons of fun! Then it was time for school work and before I knew it, Sunday was here.  Sunday we all drove into Birmingham.  Dad got to test out my parents knew navigational system (the super cool TomTom).  I got things set up at Verizon so my parents could have internet on their upcoming travels (they are headed to Maryland on Tuesday for 2 weeks of sailing!!! Did I tell you that they are learning to get their Captain's licenses? Well my dad will be Captain Pap Doc and my mom First Mate Gramercy!)  Then after a quick shopping trip to a closing Linen's and Things...it was Panera's for lunch and home sweet home.  I stayed in Birmingham of course and will spend tonight going to see Jennifer's pumpkin carving skills (she is doing her friends face - super ambitious...all i did was a monster) and dinner with Robby and James.  After a week of hiding - I think it's time for friends again!  So here's to a new week - which means school and 4 papers (yikes - must start researching), and then house/cat sitting this weekend (and of course working on those papers)!

Matt's weekend:

Matt isn't quite as lucky as me to get Friday's off! Ha! So, his weekend started when he left the office around 6ish Friday night.  After some grocery shopping it was home to do laundry and clean - as he was headed for another BOYS WEEKEND! I get so excited for Matt when he gets to see his fraternity brothers again - because I know what it is like to go from having your friends right down the street to a lot of miles away! (Elizabeth, Meredith, and Diana - I totally miss you girls a lot!) So anyways, Saturday Matt was up bright and early - a little too early for a 2pm game time (I thought and told Matt)...but completely on time for a noon kick-off (which Matt told me was the right game time! ha!)  Matt met his friends somewhere on grounds and tailgated.  Then it was time for kick-off.  Now I know UVA isn't having a "stellar" football season, but the upset of Maryland was apparently just what UVA needed to get things rolling this year because Saturday was a WIN for UVA vs. E. Carolina 35-20!!! WA-HOO-WA!!!  Then the boys were off to the Corner for dinner and the after-game scene at the Biltmore.  Matt's friends left early this morning and he is spending his Sunday in the best way possibly- rest and relaxation!!! Matt has a week of work ahead of him and another home game this coming weekend with UVA v. UNC - which could bring either another boy's weekend or working weekend (recruits) or perhaps relaxing! 

So from Matt and I to all of you - we hope you have a great week.  

Wedding information update:

1) Although I told you above, we've ordered invitations!!! Woo-hoo! Very exciting!

2) Matt fixed a little error we had with the tuxes, but now they are all picked out and ready to go!! The guys are going to look so good!  (Sorry girls still have no idea how you are going to look! Ha! Ha!)

3) Talked with potential florist on Friday morning and meeting with her in Nov! :-) (If we book here, that means all of the "big" stuff are done - except for DJ...I'm begining to think that this goal of being completely done with wedding planning by March might come true)

This past weekend...

   

Although this past weekend was emotional for my family, there were also happy times.  The weekend begins for me on Thursday nights as I do not have classes on Friday.  Well, Thursday brought with it a trip to a doctor to check out a wicked spider bite I have had for a week.  But do not fear - according to the doctor and to my mother's relief "I'll get to keep my leg!"  (That's an inside joke between my mom and I - but we are both very pleased with the diagnosis - not a brown recluse bite).  So, 3 pills a day and four times a day applying cream to the spot of the bite hopefully it will get better soon.  Moving on.  My parents and I then went to visit my grandmother.  Then it was back home to my parents house to wait for the arrival of my fiance. That's right, Matt decided that he'd rather be in Sweet Home Alabama for the weekend than Scott Stadium (really though, who saw a 31-0 upset over Maryland though? Nobody!) Anyways, Matt started driving Thursday afternoon and arrived late Thursday night.  I'll be honest - I couldn't wait to just get a hug from my soon-to-be hubby.  Sometimes a girl just needs a hug you know?  

Then Friday was upon us - it came earlier for my dad and I than anyone else in the house, thanks to insomnia.  Matt and I spent the morning giving Molly a bath (necessity, trust me) and then paying off the 1st portion of our honeymoon!! (That's right, we are saving like crazy so that our honeymoon will be completely paid for by the time we start it...and, we are 1/2 way there!!! Woo-hoo!)  Then it was a trip to Pruett's (Gadsden's famous BBQ) for lunch before a round of golf at Robert Trent Jones Course (Silverlakes).  We played the Par 3 - 9 hole course.  It was my parents in one golf cart and Matt and I in the other - but the teams were boys vs. girls - and boy-o-boy was it a great day to be a girl.  My mother and I kicked some boy butt! After that is was time to head home to home cooked chicken pot pie.  (Not kidding, my mom and I cooked it - completely homemade while the boys played Tiger Woods golf on Wii).  After that is was time for bed.  

The next morning was the morning my Grams passed away, but after talking to my mom we knew that we had to go on with our daily plans - it is what Grams would've wanted.  That meant a trip to Homestead Hollow and the Pumkin Patch.  Homestead Hollow is ridiculously hard to explain, so I won't even try - ok, well I will kind of try.  Imagine over 100 booths set up outside with vendors selling things.  That was a very horrible attempt, but there you have it.  However I've been going with my mom for the past two years, so year three together was a no-brainer.  Then it was a quick 33 mile trip to the Pumpkin Patch.  Now the directions that I lovingly printed out to get us from Homestead Hollow to the Pumkin Path were well, let's just say they left a little something to be desired (33 miles would take 1 hour 14 minutes - yeah, right?!!?).  So with Matt as the navigator, my father driving the truck, and my mom and I hanging on for dear life and laughing our heads off.  It was the best 33 miles of the day.  It was over one mountain - then down it - then back over another.  We were only on roads before turning for 2.0 miles or less.  One time we were on a road with no name. Seriously!  Then we turned right and there was an outhouse with a big R for Restroom on it.  Oh lordly, my mother and I were laughing so hard - and so were the boys.  Thank goodness Matt read a mailbox to get us going in the right direction.  Anyways we finally arrived at the pumpkin patch - no worse for the wear.  We all got on a hay-ride and it dropped us off at a pumpkin patch.  Literally! I've never seen one before! It was pretty cool.  Then the search began to find the perfect pumpkin.  Once everyone found what they were looking for (mine being the best of course), it was back to the house we went for a pizza dinner.  Then my mom and I hung out watching tv while the guys worked on the computer in the office doing some "special business."  Pretty soon my mom and I were falling asleep, so it was off to bed.  

After waking up - cleaning our rooms, bed sheets, towels, and laundry - it was time for Matt to hit the road again.  So off he went back 9 hours to Charlottesville.  I thought I would leave at the same time for B'ham, but instead I decided to stay with my parents and carve pumpkins (mine a monster, my mom's a ghost, my dad's a pirate).  Then it was time for me to go back to b'ham.  

So another week begins - Matt at work, me at school (or at least I will be Wednesday).  I took Monday and Tuesday off, some "me" time. 

So, I've been thinking a lot about my Grams these past few days.  First I want to thank everyone for their caring comments, emails, ims and phone calls.  They are very appreciated.  Secondly, I'd like to tell a story (I know, again, you are probably not shocked!).  

So the other weekend I was home in Gadsden (I know, what's new?!?!) and I went to see Grams.  Well she was eating a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup.  Now I don't know if that combination is a national thing - but it is definitely a Wallace thing (or in my Grams' case, a Usas thing).  It's a combination that I absolutely love, but I love two weird things - I add pickles to my grilled cheese and I dip my sandwich into the soup.  Well, I had that for dinner tonight (not on purpose, just had all the ingredients at my apartment) and it made me think of how I told Grams about the dunking the sandwich into the soup tactic.  So I hyped it up because I love it so, and she finally decided to try it.  Well, I wish I could say she loved it just as much, but the look of disgust on her face was hilarious.  We both ended up laughing and of course she didn't bother to tell me how gross it was.  I wonder if blunt honesty like that is a genetic trait given to me by her or if I just picked it up from being around her.  Either way, I've got it.  I still think about her a lot, but these past few days have been very good for me - so, again,  thanks to all of those who have been there for me.

  

I miss my Grams...

Yesterday I lost someone very special in my life - Grams (my grandmother - my mother's mom). Some of you knew her and some of you did not; those that did should consider your lives blessed by having known her.  I know I was blessed to grow up with Grams next door.  You know, I thought I'd be ok (I guess as ok as you can be when confronted with this situation) because I believe Grams is happier now and re-united with Papere (my grandfather), but once finally alone with my thoughts (this afternoon), I realize, I'm not so "ok." 

I thought I'd share some memories with you that are at the fore-front of my thoughts today, which are also some of the best memories I have of Grams.

1) My twin sister Robyn and I rode with my grandparents to Connecticut one summer.  The four of us were squeezed in tight into my grandparents brand new Chrysler Seabring Convertible.   It was a very posh car - particularly the transmission, as it could be both manual and automatic. Well on the onset of day two, Grams started driving.  There was this whining noise as soon as we hit the interstate and it continued to get worse.  I looked down, and it was Grams going 65 in SECOND gear! She had pulled the gearshift too far down - past Drive and into manual second gear. 

2) Grams was dropping my older sister off at a friends house - again, Robyn and I were in the car.  This time however, it was before the above note, and the car was a brand new Chevy Impala.  Grams was reversing out of the friends driveway and reversed right over the friends parent's mailbox - not stopping for a beat and waving goodbye out the window.  When we were on the drive back to Grams and Papere's house, Grams swore to us not to tell Papere.  We of course agreed.  The minute the car was in park Robyn and I ran in and told Papere about the incident and then ran home.  The reason this story is even more funny is because exactly a week ago today I went to visit Grams in the hospital with my parents.  As I began to tell this story, Grams looks at me and without missing a beat shouted "Shut-up Kelly!"  Hilarious!

3) Robyn, Grams, and I at Christmas time (when we were very young girls) put stings of popcorn and red ribbons on these three trees in my grandparents yard.  The trees were then maybe 2 feet tall, while now they are 30 feet or higher.  However, as hard as Robyn and I worked on those popcorn strings, they were always super short.  Finally we discovered why...for every piece of popcorn we threaded onto it, Grams ate 2 off!

4)  Growing up I'm pretty sure Grams had a camera with her 24/7.  (This was back - way before digital).  However, every picture she took she cut the heads off of people.  I'm not talking about on purpose - just when the pictures were developed, it was the persons shoulders down to the feet, but no head.  Or she would snap pictures for an hour or two and then we would find out that there was no film in the camera. 

5) (This is the most special as it is something only I shared with Grams).  Grams had a naturally crooked finger, her second finger on right hand at the very top of the finger.  Well it just so happens that my muscle in the top of that same finger on my hand is pretty strong - meaning, I can bend it to make my finger (and it is just that top part that bends) look just like hers, I'm talking identical.  We used to always joke about our fingers - our crooked fingers! Ha!

There are so many more fantastic stories all involving such a phenomenal woman - my Grams.  So, even though I know in my heart Grams is in a better place, now you can see a little reason why I miss my Grams.